Today is finally here!  It is the day I have to verify my grades to make sure they are correct.  Let me back up and explain a little bit.  Our school system is using an online program for grades and attendance.  It is my understanding that the administration can view the… Read full post »

Education in America has never been a priority.  Many years ago, it was illegal to educate Blacks.  Sometimes when I look around my classroom and keep getting directives about 'mandates' that have to be given, I often think to myself, am I truly wasting my time.

Many of the public schools… Read full post »

Yesterday, I was in my department meeting and three (3) of the counselors came into the meeting to talk to our department.  Before I continue, I need to set this up properly.  I teach (at least I try) high school English.  In order to graduate, students need 4 years of English. … Read full post »

At approximately 6:43p  CST, I received a call from my department chair.  I was on the phone with another co-worker and I am pissed that he didn't share the news.  Anyway, my department chair had received the following message via text:

Fwd:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd fwd former teacher ms  littl… Read full post »

I just read an article that I am going to use in my class for a Socratic Seminar.  The article was written by Michael Moore (yep that's the one).  It was entitled "Idiot Nation".  He talks about how this nation is producing a bunch of idiots and is proud of it. … Read full post »

I am truly disgusted with these students I have.  I have been trying to be hopeful that they are going to get it together, but I am convinced that the are truly hopeless.  Today, there was a roach in my class room.  I should have prefaced this by saying the students… Read full post »

There are certain days people will never forget.  It may be the birth of a child(ren), the day you proposed, your wedding day, the day your dog died, or even the day you divorced.  We all remember these days for a variety of reasons and no matter what, they are special… Read full post »

I pose this question because another young high school student was shot and killed on the bus this past Sunday. She was not the intended target, but nonetheless her life is lost. This young girl attended the same high school as Blair Holt (who was killed on the bus last spring).… Read full post »

I was approached by a friend (Amy Fuji) to write this post and I am really not sure how to approach this subject.  It stemmed from a reply I wrote on Neilpaul’s topic “Black versus White, or Why I’m lucky to be White.”  Amy suggested I write about my experiences as/… Read full post »

I was driving home one day and I noticed a billboard for the golden arches.  It was advertising a big mac meal for $3.99 after midnight.  What is really going on with that?  This is/was the only billboard I have seen with this advertisement, but you know I immediately wondered if… Read full post »

to sag or not to sag?

I received an e-mail the other day explaining the origin of SAGGIN or NIGGAS (the reverse). For those of you who are unaware, this is a so called fad; however what many young people don't know and understand is how it came

… Read full post »

Gentrification

It is summertime in Chicago and the natives are restless. For those of you who have been living under a rock for the past say 2-3 years, Chicago has torn down many of its housing projects and calls itself gentrifying neighborhoods. When you get a chance, you

… Read full post »